Nanowerk  April 5, 2022 Conventional paper is made of cellulose fibres found in wood, and the process involves energy-intensive steps that include logging, debarking, and chipping. Making pollen-based paper is similar to traditional soapmaking, which is much simpler and less energy-intensive. Researchers in Singapore used potassium hydroxide to remove the cellular components encapsulated in tough sunflower pollen grains and turned them into soft microgel particles. This step also removes allergens from the pollen. They used deionized water to remove unwanted particles from the microgel, before casting it into a 22 cm x 22 cm mould for air-drying, forming a piece […]